PSN set to change UK public sector ICT

2012 looks set to be the year that the UK’s Public Services Network (PSN), which has been talked about in a number of guises for many years, finally moves from vision to reality. PSN is designed to create a single logical network for use across the public sector. A set of standards will enable the creation of a ‘network of networks’ so that information can be shared securely between different public sector organisations.

Two new procurement frameworks are being put in place as we speak to increase transparency in the market and open it up to far greater levels of competition and commodity pricing. For the telecoms and network services suppliers there is everything to play for: although PSN is (in part) a cost reduction exercise for the government, many suppliers have an opportunity to increase their market share under PSN and to offer new services across the network.

Indeed, PSN itself is really rather dull relative to the things that it could enable once it’s up and running. It is the foundation upon which the government is hoping to build cloud services (see UK Government CloudStore: Cynical? Us?). It should enable changes to ways of working across the public sector (e.g. making use of mobile and flexible working easier and cheaper). It should enable more collaboration and facilitate the sharing of information securely between different public sector organisations. In short, PSN has the potential to radically change the way services are delivered across the UK public sector market.

But how much progress has really been made? Will PSN actually deliver? What are the benefits really likely to be? Which barriers are still holding progress back? Which will the key suppliers be and how will the supplier landscape evolve?

These questions and more are answered in the latest report from TechMarketView’s PublicSectorViews research stream – The Public Services Network: the foundation for change in public sector IT? – which is available for download by eligible subscribers from today. (If you’re not yet a subscriber and would like further details please email Deborah Seth, who will be only too happy to help).

Posted by Tola Sargeant at '08:00' - Tagged: publicsector